8 Documentaries Every American Should Watch About Veterans
On Veterans Day, we often thank veterans for their service — but far fewer of us take the time to understand that service.
War doesn’t just change nations. It changes human souls forever.
These 8 powerful documentaries help us see beyond uniforms and medals — into the invisible battles of coming home, healing, and rediscovered meani
Lioness (2008)
Directed by Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers
Before women were officially allowed in combat, five female soldiers found themselves on the front lines in Iraq. Lioness reveals their courage, trauma, and the struggle for recognition of their service.
Blood Road (2017)
Directed by Nicholas Schrunk
When ultra-endurance cyclist Rebecca Rusch rides the Ho Chi Minh Trail to find the crash site of her father’s plane from the Vietnam War, the journey becomes one of grief, reconciliation, and forgiveness — both personal and historical.
The Ground Truth (2006)
Directed by Patricia Foulkrod
One of our many esteemed project advisors for Veterans Journey Home, Patricia made one of the first major films to give voice to Iraq War veterans. This documentary captures the disillusionment many faced after returning home — a painful but eye-opening portrayal of the modern warrior’s journey.
Hell and Back Again (2011)
Directed by Danfung Dennis
An Afghanistan war film told through two timelines — one on the battlefield, the other at home as a Marine struggles to adapt to civilian life. The juxtaposition is haunting, yet profoundly human.
Surviving Home (2017)
Directed by Jillian and Matthew Moul
A wonderful, largely cinema verite portrait of three very different veterans from different generations as they struggle to emotionally and psychologically return home. Serving as a producer on the film, I found myself most drawn to the story of Claude Anshin Thomas – Vet cum Zen priest. https://www.survivinghomemovie.com/
Of Men and War (2014)
Directed by Laurent Bécue-Renard
Filmed over five years at a pioneering PTSD treatment center in California, this film offers an intimate, compassionate look at veterans struggling to rebuild their lives and relationships after trauma.
Restrepo (2010)
Directed by Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington
An unflinching look at soldiers deployed in Afghanistan’s deadly Korengal Valley, often called the “Valley of Death”. Shot entirely on the front lines, it strips away politics and heroism to reveal the raw daily experience of war — fear, brotherhood, and loss. Sebastian Junger also wrote a very good book from the inside of veterans’ experience called “Tribes.”
Veterans Journey Home (Warrior Films)
Directed by Frederick Marx
This five-part film series goes beyond combat, completely bypassing empty knee-jerk patriotism, to explore what it truly means to come home. Each film follows veterans as they confront trauma, find community, and heal moral injury.
It’s not about war — it’s about healing the human soul.
Ways to Truly Honor Veterans This Veterans Day
Each year, Veterans Day reminds us to pause, reflect, and give thanks to those who’ve served. But real gratitude goes beyond words. At Warrior Films, we believe the most meaningful way to honor veterans is to support them in healing, connecting, and telling their stories.
Support Mental Health Resources
Post-service trauma is real and ongoing. Donate to organizations providing therapy, retreats, or peer support for veterans. Even a small contribution helps build pathways to recovery.
Bring a Film Screening to Your Community
Host a screening of Veterans Journey Home. Warrior Films can help you plan a discussion or Q&A that invites healing and hope — for veterans and civilians alike.
Learn more at WarriorFilms.org
A Special Thank You: Warrior Films’ Journey to Ukraine
Warrior Films has been invited in 2026 to Ukraine to share Veterans Journey Home with veterans, psychologists, social workers, citizens and filmmakers, and the Ukrainian Department of Defense.
In a country scarred by ongoing war, our films offer a space for healing, dialogue, and hope — reminding us that the wounds of war are universal, and that storytelling can be a bridge toward peace. Thank you to all who have contributed to our efforts to make this trip happen. And for those who haven’t, there’s still time to join us. Stay tuned for more updates!
The Impact of Non-Profit Film Companies
Non-profit filmmaking isn’t just a career path—it’s a calling. It’s about putting purpose before profit, story before spectacle. It’s about using the power of art – cinema and books – not just to entertain, but to awaken. At Warrior Films, this has been my life’s work: telling stories that stir the heart, challenge the mind, and spark real change.
From Hoop Dreams to Journey From Zanskar, from Boys to Men? to Veterans Journey Home, I’ve sought out the voices that too often go unheard—and I’ve tried to listen. What I’ve learned is this: witnessing can be a sacred tool. A mirror. A megaphone. A medicine.
If that resonates with you, I invite you to explore what we’re building at Warrior Films.
There, you can:
- Buy or rent films that aren’t afraid to ask the big questions.
- Dive into our books—including my newest one—that challenge the status quo and invite transformation.
- Join a community that believes storytelling can heal, connect, and illuminate.
Let’s keep using art to do what it does best—open hearts, shift perspectives, and help shape a more compassionate world.
In service to truth and transformation,
Frederick Marx
Filmmaker. Philosopher. Artist. Fool.
